Volume 50(1):1‑29, 2010 Patterns of geograPhic distribution and conservation of the oPen-habitat avifauna of southeastern brazilian mountaintoPs (campos rupestres and campos de altitude) marcelo ferreira de vasconcelos1,2 marcos rodrigues1,3 AbstrAct Montane open-habitats of southeastern Brazil are represented by the campos rupestres (principally in the Espinhaço Range) and by the campos de altitude (in the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira). In spite of the occurrence of endemic species in both vegetation types, an analysis and synthesis of their bird communities have never been conducted. In this paper, we present an avifaunal survey of these areas, describe patterns of geographic distribution, and comment on the conservation of those open-habitats and their avifauna. A total of 231 bird species was recorded in the open-habitats of southeastern Brazilian mountaintops. In the campos rupestres, 205 species were recorded, while in the campos de altitude, the total was 123 species. Five patterns of distribution are recognizable among birds occurring in these habitats: non-endemic (191 species), Atlantic Forest endemics (26 species), Cerrado endemics (6 species), Caatinga endemic (1 species), and montane open-habitat endemics (7 species). In spite of the presence of several protected areas in those regions, the existing reserves do not guarantee the conservation of their important vegetation types and their avifaunas under current low levels of implementation. Since several endemic and threatened bird species live in the campos rupestres and campos de altitude, more efforts must be directed for their conservation. Keywords: Avifauna; Campos rupestres; Campos de altitude; Conservation; Distribution. IntroductIon Stattersfield et al., 1998; Safford, 1999a; Silva & Bates, 2002; Gonçalves et al., 2007). Those habitats Montane open-habitats in southeastern Bra- generally occur at higher elevations than the Cerrado zil are recognized as important centres of endemism and the Caatinga in their northern and western distri- for Neotropical flora and fauna (Eiten, 1992; Silva, bution and above the tree line in the Atlantic Forest 1995, 1997, 1998; Giulietti et al., 1997; Sick, 1997; region to the south and east. 1. Departamento de Zoologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, 30123-970, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. 2. Corresponding author: Rua Paraíba, 740, Apartamento 501, 30130-140, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Fone: +55 31 3425-4673. E-mail: [email protected]. 3. E-mail: [email protected]. 2 Vasconcelos, M.F. & Rodrigues, M.: Avifauna of southeastern Brazilian mountaintops Montane open-habitats include the campos rup- glaciations, when climatic-vegetational connections estres scattered along the Espinhaço Range and the between both regions were likely (Simpson-Vuilleumi- campos de altitude dotting the ridges of the eastern er, 1971; Simpson, 1979; Sick, 1970, 1985, 1997; Vi- mountains of the Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira, elliard, 1990a). Those cooler periods would have led and associated ranges (Martinelli & Orleans e Bragan- to the lowering of the tree line, increasing the latitudi- ça, 1996; Giulietti et al., 1997; Safford, 1999a; Mene- nal distribution of open-habitats in southeastern Bra- zes & Giulietti, 2000). Both habitats harbor a wide va- zil, similar to what is believed to have occurred in the riety of physiognomies, ranging from open grasslands Andean “páramos” (van der Hammen, 1974; Simp- to habitats with a dense cover of scrub and small trees. son-Vuilleumier, 1971; Simpson, 1979; Hooghiems- Rock outcrops and marshy areas also occur in both tra & Cleef, 1995; Behling, 1998; Ledru et al., 1998; formations, which have many typical and endemic Safford, 1999a). Also, during Late Glacial times, sub- plants, such as bromeliads (Bromeliaceae), “sempre- tropical grasslands expanded from latitudes of about vivas” (Eriocaulaceae), “canelas-de-ema” (Vellozia- 28°/27°S to at least 20°S (Behling, 2002). During in- ceae), bamboos and grasses (Poaceae) (Andrade et al., terglacial periods, those montane habitats would have 1986; Eiten, 1992; Meguro et al., 1994; Martinelli retreated to cooler upland areas, explaining the iso- & Orleans e Bragança, 1996; Safford, 1999a; Mene- lated occurrence of some Andean-Patagonian taxa on zes & Giulietti, 2000; Conceição & Giulietti, 2002; southeastern Brazilian mountaintops (Simpson, 1979; Benites et al., 2003; Caiafa & Silva, 2005; Conceição Safford, 1999a). This model supports the notion that & Pirani, 2005; Ribeiro et al., 2007). the high-altitude avifauna of southeastern Brazil has a Although campos rupestres and campos de altitude biogeographical influence of Andean-Patagonian ele- can present similar landscapes and share some com- ments, with the putative dispersion of those taxa from mon plant genera and species, they show important the Andes and Patagonia to southeastern Brazil during differences in the biogeographic affinities of their flor- Quaternary glacial periods (Sick, 1970, 1985, 1997; as (Menezes & Giulietti, 1986; Eiten, 1992; Harley, Vielliard, 1990a, 1996; Willis, 1992). 1995; Martinelli & Orleans e Bragança, 1996; Giuliet- Despite the occurrence of some endemic birds ti et al., 1997; Rizzini, 1997; Safford, 1999a, 2007). in the montane open-habitats of southeastern Brazil The campos rupestres flora has affinities with those (Sick, 1970, 1985, 1997; Silva, 1995; Melo-Júnior of central Brazilian Plateau, the Guianas Shield, and et al., 1998; Stattersfield et al., 1998; Vasconcelos et al., the restingas along the Atlantic Ocean coast of South 2003; Gonzaga et al., 2007; Vasconcelos, 2008b), America (Steyermark, 1986; Giulietti & Pirani, 1988; their biogeography is poorly known, with only sparse Giulietti & Hensold, 1990; Harley, 1995; Menezes & surveys and checklists (e.g. Miranda-Ribeiro, 1906, Giulietti, 2000; Alves, R.J.V. et al., 2007), but with a 1923; Lüderwaldt, 1909; Peixoto-Velho, 1923a, b; high number of endemic Bromeliaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Holt, 1928; Pinto, 1951, 1954; Willis & Oniki, 1991; Orchidaceae, and Velloziaceae (Eiten, 1992; Menezes Parrini et al., 1999; Simon et al., 1999; Vasconcelos, & Giulietti, 2000; Versieux & Wendt, 2007). 1999a, 2003, 2008a; Melo-Júnior et al., 2001; Vascon- On the other hand, campos de altitude show a celos & Melo-Júnior, 2001). Bird communities from remarkable affinity with the Andean region and also the campos rupestres and campos de altitude have never with southern Brazilian grasslands (Harley, 1995; been subject to a thorough analysis and biogeographi- Martinelli & Orleans e Bragança, 1996; Safford, cal synthesis. A good example of how poorly surveyed 1999a, 2007). In fact, campos de altitude have been are these areas is the recent description of Formicivora considered as ‘Brazilian Páramos’ because their floris- grantsaui in the Chapada Diamantina (Gonzaga et al., tic, physiognomic, climatic, and edaphic features are 2007), a relatively well-known region (Funch, 1999; so similar to those of the Andes and the high Cen- Parrini et al., 1999; Carvalhaes, 2001). tral American mountains (Harley, 1995; Safford, In his classic review of the physical environment 1999a, b, 2007). and flora of the campos de altitude, Safford (1999a) Furthermore, biogeographical affinities have recommended flora and fauna inventories as a first pri- been recognized between the flora and fauna of ority for research and conservation of this habitat. Fol- southeastern Brazilian mountains and the Andean- lowing his lead, the goals of this paper are: 1) to review Patagonian region (Sick, 1970, 1985, 1997; Simpson- and present an ornithological synthesis of the campos Vuilleumier, 1971; Simpson, 1979; Vielliard, 1990a, rupestres and campos de altitude; 2) to describe patterns 1996; Safford, 1999a, 2007). of geographic distribution of the montane open-hab- It is assumed that Brazilian mountains were itat avifauna of southeastern Brazil; 3) to discuss the colonized by Andean elements during Pleistocene conservation of those habitats and their avifauna. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 50(1), 2010 3 MAterial And Methods rupestres or the campos de altitude, such as gallery, cloud, and montane forests. Nevertheless, some typi- We included in our survey those species that cal forest birds do use dense clumps of shrubs or bam- live in open natural habitats in the mountain areas boos in those montane open-habitats (e.g. Mackenzi- of southeastern Brazil from Bahia south to São Paulo aena leachii, Drymophila genei, Hemitriccus obsoletus, (Fig. 1). Those include marshes, grasslands, bamboo Phylloscartes difficilis, and Haplospiza unicolor), and stands (Chusquea spp.), rocky outcrops covered with they were included in this revision. We also excluded rupicolous herbs and shrubs, or with clumped shrubs bird species that live only in the different physiogno- and sparse low trees. Both campos rupestres and campos mies of the Cerrado, such as cerradão, cerrado “sensu de altitude occur over a wide variety of rock substrates, stricto”, parque de cerrado, and campo sujo (see Ri- such as granite, gneiss, quartzite, sandstone, and even beiro & Walter, 1998 for a detailed description of iron ore. For physical and floristic characterizations of these habitat types). these habitats, see Andrade et al. (1986), Menezes & We selected different areas of campos rupestres Giulietti (1986, 2000), Eiten (1992), Alves & Kolbek and campos de altitude for our analysis (Fig. 1); the (1994), Meguro et al. (1994), Harley (1995), Marti- Chapada Diamantina region